SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 567,899		$ 534,579		$ 526,525		$ 513,804		$ 503,638		$ 480,484		$ 468,950		$ 460,077		$ 2,142,807		$ 1,913,149		$ 1,676,048
Gross profit	253,285		241,403		237,852		232,094		226,956		215,554		209,488		205,307		964,634		857,305
Acquisition expenses	(4,037)		(2,111)		(2,324)		(1,803)		(1,707)		(2,467)		(2,207)		(1,539)		(10,275)		(7,920)		(16,700)
Integration expenses	(2,819)		(1,423)		(1,383)		(896)		(1,356)		(1,217)		(1,044)		(1,279)		(6,521)		(4,896)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	1,971		185		122		0		(161)		11		602		(1,204)		2,278		(752)		7,221
Restructuring costs and plant closure expense	(2,012)		(364)		(104)		0		(1,933)		(2,250)		(1,064)		(86)		(2,480)		(5,333)
Impairment of intangible assets	(1,405)		0		0		0										(1,405)
Litigation settlement	(2,120)		(12)		2		(106)		(6,050)		0		0		0		(2,236)		(6,050)
Loss on sale of business									0		(4,867)		0		0				(4,867)
Net income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 78,164		$ 80,547		$ 78,044		$ 74,617		$ 70,069		$ 65,477		$ 67,593		$ 64,857		$ 311,372		$ 267,996		$ 234,751
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.91	[1]	$ 0.94	[1]	$ 0.91	[1]	$ 0.87	[1]	$ 0.82	[1]	$ 0.76	[1]	$ 0.79	[1]	$ 0.76	[1]	$ 3.62	[1]	$ 3.14	[1]	$ 2.75
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.90	[1]	$ 0.92	[1]	$ 0.89	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.80	[1]	$ 0.75	[1]	$ 0.78	[1]	$ 0.75	[1]	$ 3.56	[1]	$ 3.08	[1]	$ 2.69

[1] EPS calculated on a quarterly basis, and, as such, the amounts may not total the calculated full-year EPS.